This study explores the relationship qualities and the
subjective meanings that motivate adolescent behavior. More
specifically, this study seeks to examine the nature and meaning of
adolescent relationship experiences (e.g., with family, peers, and
dating partners) in an effort to discover how experiences associated
with age, gender, race, and ethnicity influence the meaning of dating
relationships. The study further investigates the relative impact of
dating partners and peers on sexual behavior and contraceptive
practices, as well as involvement in other problem behaviors that can
contribute independently to sexual risk taking. The longitudinal
design of the Toledo Adolescent Relationships Study (TARS) includes a
schedule of follow-up interviews occurring one, three, and five years
after the initial interview. Three waves of data have been collected
(2001, 2002, and 2004) and a fourth wave is scheduled for collection
(2006). Data were collected from adolescent respondents through
structured in-home interviews utilizing laptop computers. In-depth
interviews were conducted at the first wave with a subsample (n=100)
of the respondents. Parent data was collected via a short,
self-administered questionnaire at the first wave.

This study explores the relationship qualities and the
subjective meanings that motivate adolescent behavior. More
specifically, this study seeks to examine the nature and meaning of
adolescent relationship experiences (e.g., with family, peers, and
dating partners) in an effort to discover how experiences associated
with age, gender, race, and ethnicity influence the meaning of dating
relationships. The study further investigates the relative impact of
dating partners and peers on sexual behavior and contraceptive
practices, as well as involvement in other problem behaviors that can
contribute independently to sexual risk taking. The longitudinal
design of the Toledo Adolescent Relationships Study (TARS) includes a
schedule of follow-up interviews occurring one, three, and five years
after the initial interview. Three waves of data have been collected
(2001, 2002, and 2004) and a fourth wave is scheduled for collection
(2006). Data were collected from adolescent respondents through
structured in-home interviews utilizing laptop computers. In-depth
interviews were conducted at the first wave with a subsample (n=100)
of the respondents. Parent data was collected via a short,
self-administered questionnaire at the first wave.

Guidelines for Applying for Restricted Data

ICPSR offers two methods of accessing the restricted-use data from this study:

secure dissemination of the microdata

remote access to the microdata via ICPSR's Virtual Data Enclave (VDE)

Which Method Should You Choose?

Applicants with a terminal degree (e.g., PhD, MD, DrPH, JD, etc) in a social science field and an appointment at a research institution are likely to
be able to access the data via secure dissemination. Most other applicants will need to access these restricted-use data via the VDE.

Information to Help You Complete Your Request

Applicants should be prepared to provide the following:

Project description supporting need to access the data

IRB document (approval or exemption)

Data Use Agreement signed by the Investigator and a legal representative of the institution

Secure Dissemination: DUA is available within the request system

VDE: DUA is emailed to requester after request is initiated

Data security plan

Secure Dissemination: created within the request system

VDE: In DUA as Attachment A

Roster of research staff who will access the data; may need to include IT staff able to view the data or access the computer where the data are hosted

This data collection may not be used for any purpose other than statistical reporting and analysis. Use of these data to learn the identity of any person or establishment is prohibited. To protect respondent privacy, all data files in this collection are restricted from general dissemination. To obtain these restricted files, researchers must agree to the terms and conditions of a Restricted Data Use Agreement.

Any public-use data files in this collection are available for access by the general public.
Access does not require affiliation with an ICPSR member institution.

Universe:
Adolescents in the 7th, 9th, and 11th grade and their
parents in Lucas County, Ohio.

Data Type(s):
survey data

Data Collection Notes:

The Wave 1 data is the first wave of TARS data archived
with DSDR. Waves 2-4 of the TARS data will be archived as they
become available.

Methodology

Sample:
The sampling frame was derived from public and private
school enrollment records in Lucas County, Ohio. School attendance,
however, was not a requirement for inclusion. A stratified, random
sample (n=1,316) was then drawn from all 7th, 9th, and 11th grade
youth residing in Lucas County in the fall of 2000.